I thought Alex would finally give up.


    But I underestimated his obsession.


    He started trying to win me back in the most clumsy ways.


    Gone were the dark suits-his closet was suddenly filled with white shirts. <fn4051> Read full story at Find★Novel</fn4051>


    le said that was the color I wore when we were locked up together as kids.


    le fired all the staff from the mansion and learned to tend the garden himself.


    ecause I’d once mentioned I loved roses.


    le even bought the building across from my gallery, sitting in his office every day, staring at me through the window like some lovesick fool.


    ut everything he did just looked like meaningless self-pity to me. Too little, toote.


    ly heart had diedpletely during those three years of disappointments and that final, cold exile.


    hat day, I was about to close up when Alex’s assistant David suddenly appeared.


    e looked frantic. “Grace, please-you have to see Mr. Carter.”


    He’s locked himself in his study for three days. Won’t eat, won’t drink, won’t answer the door.”


    continued packing up my supplies without expression.


    That’s his problem. Has nothing to do with me.”


    race!” David was nearly in tears. “He keeps staring at old photos of you two, and news articles about the kidnapping. He says he can’t remember ow he lost you in the first ce.”


    He says he deserves to die.”


    ly hands paused for a moment.


    I the end, I followed David to the mansion where I’d lived for three years.


    1


    he study door was locked tight.


    had David get the spare key and we went in.


    he room was trashed, broken liquor bottles everywhere.


    lexy copsed beside his desk, unconscious, burning with fever.


    ‘hotos were scattered across the desktop.


    Pictures of me in white dresses, copying Maya’s style.


    Articles about Maya that he’d kept in his safe.


    And in the center, an old newspaper.


    The headline read: “Police Break Major Trafficking Ring, Ten Children Rescued.”


    I got him to the hospital.


    The doctor said it was acute gastritis plus high fever-anyter and the consequences would’ve been serious.


    He slept for a day and night.


    When he woke up and saw me, he looked like he was seeing a ghost.


    ‘Grace?”


    He tried to sit up, but I pushed him back down.


    Don’t move. You’re still on IV.”


    Hey still obediently, but his eyes never left my face, like I might vanish any second.


    You… you came to see me?”


    said nothing, just handed him the apple I’d peeled.


    le took it like I’d given him the world’s greatest treasure and carefully took a bite.


    Grace,” he looked at me with reddening eyes, “can we start over?”


    ‘ll give you all my shares in Carter Industries. I’ll give you my life. Juste back.”


    pulled out a tissue and wiped my hands.


    Alex, I didn’t save you because I still love you.”


    did it because twenty years ago, you risked everything to save me.”


    Now we’re truly even.”


    stood up to leave.


    It he suddenly ripped out his IV and jumped off the bed, wrapping his arms around me from behind.


    ot tears fell on my neck.


    Don’t go, Grace. Please. Don’t leave me.”


    e cried like a child, with no dignity left,pletely broken.


    know I screwed up. I’m an asshole, I’m scum! Hit me, curse me, whatever-just don’t leave me.”


    can’t live without you.”


    stood rigid in his embrace.


    aside, my heart was still as death, unable to feel even a ripple,


    Alex,” I said quietly, “it’s toote,”